Background

Build a bear Workshop is a teddy bear retail- entertainment experience where children can create a stuffed animal, dressed it, give it a name and finally play with it, they’re giving life to stuffed animal. The idea starts when Maxine’s friend “Katie” who had 10 years old wants to buy a stuffed animal but it looked so simples, so they thought do it themselves.
Build a Bear was founded in 1977 by Maxine Clark who is one of the biggest innovators in the retail industry; she had to convince several investors who made market research with their own children, getting amazing results, she also had to compete in the 90´s where it was all about online business. The first store was opened in 1977 at the Gallery Saint Louis in St Louis Missouri; it has 1200 fulltime and 4300 part-time employees and more that 70 millions of stuffed animals. Since then, the company has more than 400 stores worldwide, most of them in U.S; Puerto Rico France Ireland, Canada and United Kingdom are some of them gaining ground in the hearths of people.
Updating
2001: was named as The Most Innovate Retailer of the year by National Retail Federation.
2004: was named the "Best Retail Company of 2004" by the "International Council of Shopping Centers. That same year tha company launched the Huggable Heroes program, that “is a way to recognize and honor young people that have impacted their own neighborhoods, schools and communities by giving of themselves to others”
2006: Maxine Clark published his first book, "The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart" or "The Needs of Business: Building a Company with Heart". That same year in March Build-A-Bear Workshop opened its first store located inside a zoo at the Saint Louis Zoo.
2007: The Company launched its virtual world buildaBearVille.com “so that Guests can continue the fun with their furry friends when they get home”1
2009: BearVille.com was awarded the "Best of the Web" award from WiredSafety. That same year the company was honored with the Social Security Seal.
2010: was considered one of the best companies to work for in the ranking FORTUNE "Best Companies to Work For".
2011: Bearville.com was expanded beyond its virtual world experience into an entertainment destination focus on fun and relevant cultural content for children and families.